The entrance to a home is one of the first things you (and guests) notice. At the same time, it is also the most often overlooked spot when it comes to decorating. You really want to set the tone with your entryway. Do you want to come home every day and walk in to a boring and uninspired space? Or do you want to open the front door to an aura of calm, clean inspiration? I’ll take the latter please. When I moved into my house a year ago the front hallway was painted a jarring shade of red. I took matters into my own hands and painted it a calming shade of light blue. Blue evokes feelings of serenity and relaxation and those are definitely qualities that I like to come home to after a long day at work.

Front entryway

Above you can see what my newly painted blue entryway looked like before I added any decorative touches. For me, the key to making a space personal is adding layers until you’re satisfied- be it artwork, furniture, rugs, or something else that suits you.

Decorated entryway, part 1

For stage 1 of my decorating process I added a white table to contrast against the blue walls while also coordinating with the baseboards. Then I hung up a colorful painting, threw in a patterned rug (in a neutral pattern to be sure it wasn’t too much color), and topped off the white table with a vintage birdcage that I made the home of an iron pig (don’t ask why, I just thought it looked interesting- conversation starter?). A vintage owl mirror above the table finished this layer.

Decorated entryway, part 2

For stage 2 of the process I hung up another painting- a black and white acrylic of flowers that I did myself, and a framed and matted photograph I took in college- also in black/white and flanked by a black frame and white mat. The black and white from the photograph plays off of the painting and goes well in an otherwise pretty colorful room, thanks to the blue on the walls.

Now, when I enter my home I am greeted by a space distinctive of my style and filled with personal touches. It also sets the tone for the rest of my house and the style that lies beyond the front entryway.

There is nothing that can transform an item, a room, a wall, (hey, even your hair), better than a fresh coat of color. Recently I transformed a yellowing old dresser that I found on Craigslist into this navy and white masterpiece that completely coordinates with my bedroom color scheme. I simply sanded the outside of the dresser, painted it with primer paint, and then did three topcoats of both navy and white wall paint. (I took the drawers out to make painting easier). I did navy on the drawers and white on the base for a nice color contrast. In addition, I unscrewed the drawer knobs and spray painted them white, and then screwed them back on. Total project cost: $60.